So like with my bold, I can just hold down the menu button and scroll through running applications. I can't seem to do this on the 8900. I will have to press menu and then choose switch application. Is there a "hotkey" for the 8900 , as there is for the 9000?

Try holding down the ALT key and tap the escape key. That will bring up the window. Continue to hold down the alt key while scrolling left or right. Once you have an application highlighted, release the alt key and you will switch to it.